The Offing

Written by Barbara McConchie

The Offing is that part of the sea that can be seen from the shore just before the horizon – at a distance but within sight. Walking daily along the shores, the offing stays with me, every step, side by side, we walk together.

‘You're here just a while', (The Offing #14), 187mm H x 250mm W. [ “Pass in Time”, Beth Orton]

 Image 1

The offing where sea meets horizon is also a phrase about the foreseeable future. Daily walks reveal shifting skies and darkening seas, colours that foretell change, speculations both a lament and a hope.

‘You believe what you see* (The Offing #6), 132mm H x 211mm W. [* ''Depth of my soul”, Thievery Corporation]

 Image 2

The predictions for change are from our observations. The colours used to indicate extreme events are not merely found on our digital weather reports, but constantly in front of us: in the colours of the skies, at the sun’s first rise, the noon day and the setting. Blue skies made white by a hot, hot sun. In the colours of our oceans the changing hues from green to brown and blue to black.

‘Your sea of doubt become your own belief* (The Offing # 7), 280mm H x 420mm W. [* “Pass in time”, Beth Orton]

Image 3

The titles are from music, lines from songs that I am immersed in whilst I work. Laments or hopeful, I find they echo through my mind as my body engages in the act of drawing.

These drawings invite different ways of looking and imagining, exploring the intricacy, wonder and vulnerability of nature. Each work is not a true reflection of a view, but an amalgam of looking and imagining, with a growing cognisance of the unstable state of our world.

‘Carving silver in strange weather* (The Offing #5), 241mm H x 312mm W. [* “Strange Weather”, Keren Ann]

 Image 4

Devastating human actions need to be balanced by intentional acts of restoration and care. Art is one form of counterbalance, expressive and abstract, a point of view, a reaction and a speculation.

‘I could possibly be fading, (The Offing #8), 132mm H x 210mm W. [* “Into Dust”, Mazzy Star]

The Offing Suite 

Image Credits

All works are pencil, metallic and non-metallic watercolour on paper

Image credits for The Offing #’ 1 - 14 Brenton McGeachie; remaining images photo the artist.

T - B and L - R

  1. There’s magic everywhere* (The Offing #1), 188mm H x 250mm W [* ‘Wonderful Life’, Katie Melua]

  2. Where endless colours, they are swallowed by the sun* (The Offing #2), 132mm H x 210m W [* ‘Depth of my soul’, Thievery Corporation]

  3. Upon your shore, as sure as I can say* (The Offing #3), 166mm H x 244mm W [* ‘Fuel to Fire’, Agnes Obel]

  4. Sweet dreams until sunbeams find you* (The Offing #4), 203mm H x 258mm W [* ‘Dream a little dream of me’, Gus Khan, Fablan Andre and Wilbur Schwandt]

  5. Carving silver in strange weather* (The Offing #5), 241mm H x 312mm W [* ‘Strange Weather’, Keren Ann]

  6. You believe what you see* (The Offing #6), 132mm H x 211mm W [* ‘Depth of my soul’, Thievery Corporation]

  7. Your sea of doubt become your own belief (The Offing #7), 280mm H x 420mm W [ ‘Pass in time’, Beth Orton]

  8. I could possibly be fading* (The Offing #8), 132mm H x 210mm W, [* ‘into Dust’, Mazzy Star]

  9. Wake up slowly, there are blue skies* (The Offing #9), 187mm H x 250mm W [* ‘Strange Weather’, Keren Ann

  10. Gulls in the sky and my blue eyes* (The Offing #10), 240mm H x 318mm W [* ‘Wonderful Life’, Katie Melua]

  11. I’m as riddled as the tide* (The Offing #11), 203mm H x 223mm W [* ‘Song to the Siren’, This Mortal Coil]

  12. I never tried to reach your Eden* (The Offing #12), 180mm H x 250mm W [*‘Eden’, Hooverphonic]

  13. Left me with eyes that cry* (The Offing #12), 139mm H x 190mm W [* ‘All of me’, Billie Holliday]

  14. You’re here just a while* (The Offing #14), 187mm H x 250mm W [* ‘Pass in time’, Beth Orton]

  15. Here I go out to sea again* (The Offing #15), 140mm H x 192mm W [* ‘Wonderful Life’, Katie Melua]

  16. Sail to me, let me enfold you* (The Offing #16), 140mm H x 192mm W [* ‘Song to the Siren’, This Mortal Coil]

  17. But I swear I can see right through you* (The Offing #17), 188mm H x 193 mm W [* ‘Take something beautiful’, Jen Cloher]

  18. I wanna swim, swim in the undertow* (The Offing #18), 188mm H x 225mm W [* ‘Undertow’, Lisa Hanngan)

  19. How long can you hold your breath* (The Offing #19), 188mm H x 250mm W [*‘The Great Escape’, Moby]

  20. Make a promise out loud and then break it* (The Offing #20), 188mm H x 193mm W [* ‘Take something beautiful’ Jen Cloher]

  21. Long afloat on shipless oceans* (The Offing #22), 188mm H x 250mm W [* ‘Song to the Siren’, This Mortal Coil]

  22. Your freedom is the end of me* (The Offing #23), 179mm H x 250mm W [* ‘Your freedom is the end of me’ Melanie de Blaslo]

Barbara McConchie
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